All the routine restorations that I place are currently tooth coloured.  The standard material that I use is 3M’s Filtek Supreme XT / which is well researched and I consider it the best on the market. It has advantages of maintaining a good polish and being as strong as possible for anterior cosmetic fillings. There are many other less expensive alternatives that are used but I don’t like to compromise in the standards of my materials. Research is continuing all the time however, and when a better material that has an established and researched pedigree comes forward then I reserve the right to progress!

Learn more about 3M’s Filtek Supreme XT.

I personally no longer use Amalgam as a Filling Material, but don’t believe it is dangerous. The main reason that I prefer using Composite Resin is that the material adheres to the tooth. This means that when a tooth weakened by decay is restored or filled with amalgam, the weaker tooth flexes more, and given time stress cracks develop under the cusps or pointed tips of the tooth and they fracture off! The advantage of Composite Resin is that the filling material adheres to the tooth and actually strengthens the tooth once more increasing its stiffness. This prevents crack propagation, increases the life of the filling and underlying tooth structure. A win in every way!

The only negative of a well placed composite resin restoration is that the material can shear fracture under heavy load, that is, it can vertically chip. This in practice doesn’t happen too frequently, however, and can be repaired relatively easily. I have found that large correctly placed composite restorations often obvigate the need for crowns.